Why I haven't posted much lately.
This summer (Australia's winter) has been a nightmare for us.
At first I thought it was only us, but after speaking with others, it seems to be a lot of it going around. Remember checking on tenants is not the same here.There is no centralised database (Rob is trying to make one now for local landlords)Insurance is not available for any tenant damage or arrears. We are permitted 2 weeks rent as bond. We must wait until 30 days in arrears, then give 15 days notice, and wait for a hearing..4-6 weeks away.We are starting to be proactive. We give notice and hearing dates at the same time now. If we need to cancel (yeah right) a hearing, we lost $29. Tenants seem to think a lease is only a contract when they want something from the landlord, but not when they want break the lease or live rent free.
For the most part we do our own repairs and maintenance while home in Canada for these 4 months. This year, we haven't had the time.We have a carpenter who is competant, and inexpensive.
Our long term building supers informed us they were retiring.They are both now in their 70's and wanted to relax and bought their own home.We advertised for the position, and one of our current tenants at another property applied for it.He was in his 60's, divorced, and had been a professional when he was employed. The mental state is something that takes time to establish. Within 2 weeks we knew he wasn't the one.During this time we continued our search.Long story short, we were bringing in the police trying to take back control of our apt building from this superintendant.Our carpenter (who is also the nephew of our retiring supers) and his wife are our new supers, and we are calm again.
Before we arrived home, we knew one property had a woman who breached her lease, and had increased her cats from 3 to 15.She also demolished the furnished rental, and everything had to be discarded.She had nailed windows shut,and lots of other stuff.She also had mental problems, as we had complaints she had been entering neighbours homes without permission.She is gone. The place is back to normal, and we put in a new tenant last week.
Tenants being late for rent is nothing new.One particular tenant was consistantly late, but always paid within 30 days.His lease was coming up for renewal.We decided not to renew, and gave notice.We showed the mobile home to an applicant, as she was looking for a 3 bedroom. When we arrived, we knew something was wrong. One doorlock had been changed (door also) but the other door was still accessible. Our 3 bedroom mobile stank of dog urine, cigarette smoke, and the ceiling was collapsing in the back bedroom. He had removed a supporting wall and was in the middle of turning the 2 smaller bedrooms in a larger room.Wires were hanging. We were beyond words. We called the police. They refuse to come, because it is a tenant issue. We call the Residential tenancy Officer and stated we are evicting the tenant now, and declaring the property uninhabitable. She says to allow tenant access to medication and to remove their belongings. Over the next 5 days we attended while he removed everything.We bring in our carpenter to put it back together for rental.Damage is $5k.Rental arrears $900.We were awarded rent, and $200 for the damage. We are appealing.
Another tenant moves into a property. Pays bond and has a payment schedule for the first month. This is not unusual, many landlords do this.She misses first scheduled payment. When we arrive at the property, there is someone ahead of us dropping off garbage on the lawn. Seems her old landlord spent the previous 2 hours sorting and bagging it.I start speaking with this woman, and find out lots of useful information on our dear tenant. She was also duped.She received one month rent, and tenant left water running when she left, which flooded, and did damage. We decide to break lease. Tenant has already breached lease, so we issue 5 day notice to quit.She doesn't leave. Water is not included in lease, so a day after her scheduled eviction, we have the town disconnect it.Next thing we know, the cops, town council, RTA, are all calling us and demanding we turn it on. NO WAY. According to the RTA we are required to mitigate our loss. Never being able to collect the money from the water bill, is doing just that. She is still in our property with 3 kids, without any running water...6 weeks later.We tried to show the property to applicants, and she tries to strangle Rob. Cops called.Seems even when we act within the RTA for showing a property, the criminal code steps in, and Rob was liable for criminal charges because the tenant said no. Cops called last night, and decided to not charge either the tenant or Rob. The tenant does admit to strangling Rob at the RTA hearing though.Tenant grandfather was with her. We offered to allow her to move in 2 days, and owe us nothing. She said she needed more time...6 weeks more. NO! After back and forth, we said we would compromise if the grandfather co-signed the lease and paid the rental arrears. She could stay. He refused. We don't know the outcome of hearing yet (it is mailed). Tenant has now served us for compensation of no water, moving expenses, and discomfort. She was able to get her hearing in 2 weeks . WTF. Oh, we countered, we want immediate eviction.
Another tenant wants to break lease and move in with b/f. No problem. Sublease for the 2 months. Nope.She thinks that's unfair, and has decided to say it was now health issues, and because the building is unsafe.During her hearing she says her apartment is above average in cleanliness...except we had taken a picture that day of her dirty fridge, stove, and thick blanket of dust on ceiling fan. The Director couldn't find against us there, but tenant had a picture of peeling paint on a part of the wall in the laundry room (by dryer vent).She was permitted to break lease. We have appealed. Her doctors letter states her health has improved since leaving the building...except on the night of the appeal, she was home recovering from kidney infection, and couldn't make it. Rescheduled.....only confirms we are not her problem.
Another applicant in the middle of a separation with partner. She and her kids view the property several times in one day and they are all very excited.Comes back and signs lease and 90 minutes later wants to break lease. Her kids are supposedly crying and don't want move. We issue a letter stating she can sublet. Next day she has a doctors letter. The property is making her ill. Her asthma is making it hard for her to breathe.She provides a one months notice to quit. We visit her doctor, and have her fill out another paper for our defence. Seems we have't been the cause for any significant deterioration..she hasn't even moved in...Hearing is in a couple of weeks.When we served her for the hearing...she is still living with partner. Maybe that is the real reason she doesn't want to move?
Another couple move in July 1. Pay most rent in cash, with $150 in a cheque. Cheque bounces 3 times.Then we isue them an eviction, unless they pay. Yesterday we inform we are keeping the hearing, they had better show up. We will be getting their payment schedule in writing, and if they default we will have it enforced with the sheriff. Female is not permitted to provide cheques, he must have cheques drawn on his bank account. She had rented from us, had a friend fill out forms to receive welfare. Welfare contacted us, and we worked with them. Welfare cancelled, and now she has obtained a job.They told us she has a history of not paying rent.Good thing male partner has a good paying job.
Another tenant moved in mid July. Paid security and rent. We spoke to him several times over the course of 2 weeks. When rent day came, he informed us of the massive growth of mold. I ask if he wants to terminate his lease, and says maybe.Only thing is, there wasn't any when we attended 20 minutes later. He then went to welfare and asked for money.They called us. We stated in our opinion there wasn't any mold. He was denied.He is angry now. Has gone to our local newspaper and reporter views a water stain (3 years old at least) on the vynil tub surround in the bathroom.When we arrived to file for a hearing, tenant is already ahead of us in line. He wants immediate termination of lease. Great ! We are asking to immediately terminate his lease, if it is as bad as he is claiming.This way he can get compensation thru his tenant's insurance he is required to obtain. Oh wait...he didn't buy it.No free money for him.Tenant tells the newspaper reporter how bad we are, how hard we are to deal with. We won't do any repairs etc. Newspaper article doesn't put us in a very good light. We then go to reporter and provide him with the information the tenant clearly forgot to mention. He won't permit us access, even with the police presence. We had contacted the building health inspector the day we first arrived in front of the tenant. They will only do an inspection when a tenant requests it. The report arrived yesterday, and any visiable mold around window frame is to be wiped with water and dish detergent. There isn't any...but report is carefully worded, to included any that is seen.
This goes on and on...probably another 10 examples of dead beat tenants.
The garbage the tenants leave behind is unreal. Most tenants don't take any refuse to curb, so it is $100s of dollars to remove ($700 was the highest for one family ..after evicting them 5 months after moving in)
We have had it with the incompetant resident tenancy officer. We have in writing to her superior, to request her removed from hearing any of our cases. We will know the result in a couple of weeks.
We have delayed our travel plans by a month, because it would be too much for our supers.
Many landlords would have done nothing, and moved on.
We are not the norm.
If a tenant is breaching,we call them on it.
We may never get any money, but we will ruin their credit for the next 20 years.
I have also contacted other landlords informing them about very troublesome tenants, knowing we may be stuck with the tenant longer. I don't want any other landlord to go thru this.
The system needs an overhaul.
Hopefully next summer will be better.
This has been stressful.
This summer (Australia's winter) has been a nightmare for us.
At first I thought it was only us, but after speaking with others, it seems to be a lot of it going around. Remember checking on tenants is not the same here.There is no centralised database (Rob is trying to make one now for local landlords)Insurance is not available for any tenant damage or arrears. We are permitted 2 weeks rent as bond. We must wait until 30 days in arrears, then give 15 days notice, and wait for a hearing..4-6 weeks away.We are starting to be proactive. We give notice and hearing dates at the same time now. If we need to cancel (yeah right) a hearing, we lost $29. Tenants seem to think a lease is only a contract when they want something from the landlord, but not when they want break the lease or live rent free.
For the most part we do our own repairs and maintenance while home in Canada for these 4 months. This year, we haven't had the time.We have a carpenter who is competant, and inexpensive.
Our long term building supers informed us they were retiring.They are both now in their 70's and wanted to relax and bought their own home.We advertised for the position, and one of our current tenants at another property applied for it.He was in his 60's, divorced, and had been a professional when he was employed. The mental state is something that takes time to establish. Within 2 weeks we knew he wasn't the one.During this time we continued our search.Long story short, we were bringing in the police trying to take back control of our apt building from this superintendant.Our carpenter (who is also the nephew of our retiring supers) and his wife are our new supers, and we are calm again.
Before we arrived home, we knew one property had a woman who breached her lease, and had increased her cats from 3 to 15.She also demolished the furnished rental, and everything had to be discarded.She had nailed windows shut,and lots of other stuff.She also had mental problems, as we had complaints she had been entering neighbours homes without permission.She is gone. The place is back to normal, and we put in a new tenant last week.
Tenants being late for rent is nothing new.One particular tenant was consistantly late, but always paid within 30 days.His lease was coming up for renewal.We decided not to renew, and gave notice.We showed the mobile home to an applicant, as she was looking for a 3 bedroom. When we arrived, we knew something was wrong. One doorlock had been changed (door also) but the other door was still accessible. Our 3 bedroom mobile stank of dog urine, cigarette smoke, and the ceiling was collapsing in the back bedroom. He had removed a supporting wall and was in the middle of turning the 2 smaller bedrooms in a larger room.Wires were hanging. We were beyond words. We called the police. They refuse to come, because it is a tenant issue. We call the Residential tenancy Officer and stated we are evicting the tenant now, and declaring the property uninhabitable. She says to allow tenant access to medication and to remove their belongings. Over the next 5 days we attended while he removed everything.We bring in our carpenter to put it back together for rental.Damage is $5k.Rental arrears $900.We were awarded rent, and $200 for the damage. We are appealing.
Another tenant moves into a property. Pays bond and has a payment schedule for the first month. This is not unusual, many landlords do this.She misses first scheduled payment. When we arrive at the property, there is someone ahead of us dropping off garbage on the lawn. Seems her old landlord spent the previous 2 hours sorting and bagging it.I start speaking with this woman, and find out lots of useful information on our dear tenant. She was also duped.She received one month rent, and tenant left water running when she left, which flooded, and did damage. We decide to break lease. Tenant has already breached lease, so we issue 5 day notice to quit.She doesn't leave. Water is not included in lease, so a day after her scheduled eviction, we have the town disconnect it.Next thing we know, the cops, town council, RTA, are all calling us and demanding we turn it on. NO WAY. According to the RTA we are required to mitigate our loss. Never being able to collect the money from the water bill, is doing just that. She is still in our property with 3 kids, without any running water...6 weeks later.We tried to show the property to applicants, and she tries to strangle Rob. Cops called.Seems even when we act within the RTA for showing a property, the criminal code steps in, and Rob was liable for criminal charges because the tenant said no. Cops called last night, and decided to not charge either the tenant or Rob. The tenant does admit to strangling Rob at the RTA hearing though.Tenant grandfather was with her. We offered to allow her to move in 2 days, and owe us nothing. She said she needed more time...6 weeks more. NO! After back and forth, we said we would compromise if the grandfather co-signed the lease and paid the rental arrears. She could stay. He refused. We don't know the outcome of hearing yet (it is mailed). Tenant has now served us for compensation of no water, moving expenses, and discomfort. She was able to get her hearing in 2 weeks . WTF. Oh, we countered, we want immediate eviction.
Another tenant wants to break lease and move in with b/f. No problem. Sublease for the 2 months. Nope.She thinks that's unfair, and has decided to say it was now health issues, and because the building is unsafe.During her hearing she says her apartment is above average in cleanliness...except we had taken a picture that day of her dirty fridge, stove, and thick blanket of dust on ceiling fan. The Director couldn't find against us there, but tenant had a picture of peeling paint on a part of the wall in the laundry room (by dryer vent).She was permitted to break lease. We have appealed. Her doctors letter states her health has improved since leaving the building...except on the night of the appeal, she was home recovering from kidney infection, and couldn't make it. Rescheduled.....only confirms we are not her problem.
Another applicant in the middle of a separation with partner. She and her kids view the property several times in one day and they are all very excited.Comes back and signs lease and 90 minutes later wants to break lease. Her kids are supposedly crying and don't want move. We issue a letter stating she can sublet. Next day she has a doctors letter. The property is making her ill. Her asthma is making it hard for her to breathe.She provides a one months notice to quit. We visit her doctor, and have her fill out another paper for our defence. Seems we have't been the cause for any significant deterioration..she hasn't even moved in...Hearing is in a couple of weeks.When we served her for the hearing...she is still living with partner. Maybe that is the real reason she doesn't want to move?
Another couple move in July 1. Pay most rent in cash, with $150 in a cheque. Cheque bounces 3 times.Then we isue them an eviction, unless they pay. Yesterday we inform we are keeping the hearing, they had better show up. We will be getting their payment schedule in writing, and if they default we will have it enforced with the sheriff. Female is not permitted to provide cheques, he must have cheques drawn on his bank account. She had rented from us, had a friend fill out forms to receive welfare. Welfare contacted us, and we worked with them. Welfare cancelled, and now she has obtained a job.They told us she has a history of not paying rent.Good thing male partner has a good paying job.
Another tenant moved in mid July. Paid security and rent. We spoke to him several times over the course of 2 weeks. When rent day came, he informed us of the massive growth of mold. I ask if he wants to terminate his lease, and says maybe.Only thing is, there wasn't any when we attended 20 minutes later. He then went to welfare and asked for money.They called us. We stated in our opinion there wasn't any mold. He was denied.He is angry now. Has gone to our local newspaper and reporter views a water stain (3 years old at least) on the vynil tub surround in the bathroom.When we arrived to file for a hearing, tenant is already ahead of us in line. He wants immediate termination of lease. Great ! We are asking to immediately terminate his lease, if it is as bad as he is claiming.This way he can get compensation thru his tenant's insurance he is required to obtain. Oh wait...he didn't buy it.No free money for him.Tenant tells the newspaper reporter how bad we are, how hard we are to deal with. We won't do any repairs etc. Newspaper article doesn't put us in a very good light. We then go to reporter and provide him with the information the tenant clearly forgot to mention. He won't permit us access, even with the police presence. We had contacted the building health inspector the day we first arrived in front of the tenant. They will only do an inspection when a tenant requests it. The report arrived yesterday, and any visiable mold around window frame is to be wiped with water and dish detergent. There isn't any...but report is carefully worded, to included any that is seen.
This goes on and on...probably another 10 examples of dead beat tenants.
The garbage the tenants leave behind is unreal. Most tenants don't take any refuse to curb, so it is $100s of dollars to remove ($700 was the highest for one family ..after evicting them 5 months after moving in)
We have had it with the incompetant resident tenancy officer. We have in writing to her superior, to request her removed from hearing any of our cases. We will know the result in a couple of weeks.
We have delayed our travel plans by a month, because it would be too much for our supers.
Many landlords would have done nothing, and moved on.
We are not the norm.
If a tenant is breaching,we call them on it.
We may never get any money, but we will ruin their credit for the next 20 years.
I have also contacted other landlords informing them about very troublesome tenants, knowing we may be stuck with the tenant longer. I don't want any other landlord to go thru this.
The system needs an overhaul.
Hopefully next summer will be better.
This has been stressful.
